A Two for One Deal

He’s reaching for the glove box as we pull up to the red light. 

He pulls the coupons from his breast pocket.

“What are you doing?”

He glances from the coupons to the light to the paper-clipped offers he’s taken from the glove box.

“Organizing,” he says.

“Hmm,” I say.

“What?” he says, turning bright blue eyes at me.  “A man’s got to organize.”

I keep my own counsel.

He looks up at the light again.  “No, really,” he says.  “Sitting at a red light is an excellent opportunity to go through your coupons.”

“Maybe for you to go through your coupons,” I say.  “I like to do mine while showering.”

He has the sense to grin.  “Like this one,” he says.  He checks his rear view mirror, then pulls a small piece of paper from the pile  “You see this?  Because we went through the paper this morning, I know this is on sale, limit of ten.  I’m going to get ten at the discounted price, but the coupon I have says buy one, get the second for free.”  He smiles.  “I’ll be swimming in Dr Pepper.”  He leans over, takes my hand.  “Don’t you want to be swimming in Dr Pepper, Pearl?”

I turn to look out the window, mostly to hide my amusement.  “You buys you ten, you gets you eleven.”

He squeezes my hand quickly as the light changes, then puts both hands on the wheel.  We pull ahead.  

He is smiling into traffic.  “Pearl,” he says quietly.

“Kurt,” I say.